Wire-stretcher.



PATENTBD DEG. 1903.

L. A. PRESTON.V

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLIOATIQN FILED SEPT. 8,1902.

* v11o MODELL Wir we; 7 LA www rrnn STAT-ns atented ecem'ber 1, 1908.

LEONIDAS A. PRESTON, OF OHEAPSIDE, TEXAS.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECILFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,662, dated 'December 1, 1903.

Application filed September 8, 1902. Serial No. 122,629. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONIDAS A. PRESTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cheapside, in the county of Gonzales and Stateof Texas, have invented a new and useful Wire- Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to implements employed in connection with the building of fences, more particularly with the stretching of the strand-wires, but which may be employed in connection with various other parts of the work, and has for its object the construction of a simple easily-operated device which may be employed for various purposes in connection with the building o of fences and which may be operated by one man in performing the various steps necessary in stretching and securing the wire or Withdrawing the staples When repairing or removing fences and which may also be employed to assist in setting the posts; and the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter shown and described, and specified inthe claim.

In the drawings-illust-rative of the invention, Figure l is a plan view of the device applied to illustrate its construction and mode of operation. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, enlarged, of the operative end of the implement to illustrate more fully its construction.

The improved implement consists in a stock or shank 10 of any suitable length and size, preferably formed of a steel bar, but which may be made of iron tipped with steel at one. end, this end preferably having a pair of its opposite sides liattened and beveled to form asharpened engaging end, which is bifurcated to form a claw 11.

Attached to one side of the handle member 10, spaced from the claw end, is a hanger 12, having ears 13 14, between which a short lever 15 is pivoted by one end, as shown, to overlie one of the flattened faces of the shank and to swing toward and from the same ina direct central line, the pivot 16 ofthe lever Y passing through the ears and transversely cated in full lines in Fig. l.

the bar; but these dimensions may be varied and the implement increased or decreased in size and length, as required, to adapt it t0 larger or smaller fences, and I do not, there. fore, wish to be limited in any manner to any proportions or specilic sizesof the parts, as they may be varied at will Without departing from the principle of the invention.

In using the instrument-the Wire is engaged with the hook 17, which opens in alinernent withl the post-engaging face of the lever 10, and the claw end 11 placed against the post on the opposite side from the direction from which the Wire is to be drawn, as indi- The operator then carries the handle member 10 around horizontally into the position indicated by i a direct'liue with the fulcrum-point of the lever 10. This action draws the Wire (indicated at 20) across the post and slightly bendsit thereover in proper position to be secured in the usual manner by staples or other suitable means. In operating the device the operator will preferably stand in front of the implement, so that when turned to the position shown `by dotted lines in Fig. l he can hold it in its operated position by his body, thusleaving both hands free to be employed in securing the Wire by the staples. This is an important feature of the invention and greatly increases its convenience and efficiency.

The sharpened end isan importantfeatureof the invention, as it servesl to form for itself a cavity in the soft Wood of the post, which preventsitsslippingwhenoperated. Then,again, the sharpened end serves an important purpose in'providing for the use of the implement in loosening the earth when digging the holes for the fence-posts, and the claw feature renders the implement very convenient as a staple-drawer when repairing or removing fences. The opposite end of the shank 10 is adapted to be employed for tamping the earth around the fence-posts when setting them and to this end may be slightly enlarged at 18, as before mentioned. The implement thus becomes a Very useful one, capable of being employed for many purposes in building fences and in performing similar work.

The hanger l2 is shown secured to the stock 10 by two bolts 2l 22, but may be riveted or otherwise secured to the stock instead of being bolted, if preferred.

The hook member 17 will be formed with a slightlyrounded interior coniiguration, so that it will grip the wire without abrading it, thus obviating liability of the wire breaking when bent.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- A Wire-stretcher comprising a shank having a pair of its opposite sides at one end fiattened and beveled to form a sharpened end for engagement with a fence-post, said end being bifurcated to form a claw, a hanger removably attached to the shank coincident with one of the flattened faces and having a pair of spaced ears, and a lever pivoted between said ears to overlie and swing toward and from the adjacent iattened face in a direct central line, said lever having its free end bent laterally and backward to form a Wire-engaging hook disposed in line with the axial center of the shank.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

LEONIDAS A. PRESTON.

Witnesses:

B. SCHIWETZ, PAUL DoRN CLUTA. 

